t, pulling her flush against him until there was no space left between them. The kiss deepened, transforming from her desperate declara

mpletely unraveled. "Am I dreaming, Aria?" he murmured, his long fingers gently tracing the elegant line of h

aned up and nipped his lower lip-a sharp, playful bite that brought a sudden gro

hed her even tighter against his chest. "If only you would stay this compliant," he murmured, hi

had scarred him. Reaching around his neck, she anchored herself to him completely. "I will," she promise

He scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing. A

aving no room for argument. He carried her to the open door of

ind. Aria leaned her head against his shoulder, the rhythmic motion of the car soothing the fraye

opened directly into his penthouse, a sprawling space of minimalist design, dark w

eached into his jacket pocket and produced a small, black velvet box. Inside, nestled on a bed of satin, was a ring. It wasn't a diamond. It

first saw you," he confesse

thought she loved had been plotting her demise. The irony was a bitter pill. She held out

econd chance-it was too much. She leaned forward and kissed him again, no

ic, intoxicating pull. He leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he murmured a low, velvety threat. "I am choosing to believ

ress flat against the firm, racing beat of his chest. "You talk as if I'm the dangerous one," she countered softly, her finger

is fingers migrated up to firmly cup her chin. His thumb stroked her lower lip with a possessive, almost manic fervor. "God help me, Aria,

ion. "Then lock me away," she whispered, her heart swellin

e. The kiss moved from the living room to the bedroom, clothes shedding along the way. She gave herself to

er, the sheets cool. A pang of disappointment hit her, a fleeting fear that it had all been a dream

angular, just like him. Urgent mee

the last of the graveyard chill in her soul. She drank the milk, the simple gestu

She looked down at the city sprawling below, a kingdom of steel and glass. She couldn

ng sheet of paper and a pen, and wrote her own n

glass of the window showed a woman she barely recognized. Her eyes were no